For those who doubt Chad Pennington will return as the Jets’ starting quarterback this season after a second rotator-cuff surgery on his throwing arm, he delivered this bold message last night:

“If I were a betting man in Vegas,” Pennington said, “I’d put money on No. 10.”

For the uninitiated, Pennington wears No. 10 in Jets green.

“I feel like I can fit right in and be the quarterback that the Jets need me to be in this system,” Pennington said last night while at a “Taste of New York” benefit at the South Street Seaport with other teammates. “I’m full go. That means I’m throwing every route we have in the playbook. I feel really good about it.”

Pennington then unleashed this minor bombshell on the eve of today’s and tomorrow’s rookie minicamp:

“I’m not even trying to get back to where I was,” he said. “I’m trying to get better than where I was. That’s my goal. I’m not trying to get back to the old Chad Pennington. I’m trying to get better than what the old Chad Pennington was. And I feel like I’m on my way there.”

Pennington, who turns 30 on June 26, said he plans to practice fully in the practice camp that takes place later this month and participate fully in the Jets’ veteran minicamp, which takes place next month.

When competition against Patrick Ramsey for the starting job was brought up, Pennington was quick to point out how far ahead he is at this time of year than he was a year ago.

“Last year, I had to fly by the seat of my pants to do everything I could to win a football game,” he said. “Heck, we played Kansas City [in the 2005 season opener] and that was 30 weeks removed from surgery. Thirty weeks from surgery this time around is this week. That’s why time is so important.

“One thing you can never take for granted is time,” Pennington continued. “I just feel really good about everything. I don’t have any concerns, doubts or worries. It’s a matter of going through the process. I know what to expect. I’ve been here and done this.”

Pennington said he’s had the time to get stronger than he was before with this rehab. Though he played at 220 pounds before, he’s now 229 pounds and plans to play at that weight.

Asked about the Jets drafting Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens in the second round, Pennington said, “I don’t worry about what the organization does in the draft. I’ve always trusted their plans. I want to be in those plans, the future plans. If I am, we’ll take advantage of every opportunity I get. If I’m not, that’s OK, there are 31 other teams.”